Quick coupling valve



Oct. 25, 1938. W. VAN E. THoMPsoN 2,134,382

v QUICK COUPLING VALVE L Filed April 20, 1936 A rToR/VEK Patented on. 2s, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,134,382 QUICK COUPLING VALVE Calif., co

pany, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Caliiornia Application April 20, 1936, Serial No. 75,297

3 Claims.

My invention relates to the sprinkler art and particularly concerns a quick coupling valve for use in sprinkler systems where the irrigation sprinklers can not be left protruding above the surface of the ground, for example, in playgrounds, golf courses, and the like, where any protrudingsprinkler would interfere with the use of such property.

Quick coupling valves or quick coupling devices, as they are sometimes called, are in general use and consist essentially of a stationary or permanent part which is usually located below the surface of the ground and is connected to the water supply. The quick coupling device also includes a removable part to which the sprinkler unit is connected. When it is desired to employ a sprinkler, the removable part is secured to the permanent part, and in so doing a valve in the permanent part is opened, thus allowing water to ow through the permanent part and the removable part to the sprinkler unit, by means of which it is distributed over the surrounding area.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a quick coupling device or quick coupling valve suitable for use as designated above which is an improvement over the prior art by reason of its extreme simplicity andY dependability.

It is a further object of my invention toY provide a quick coupling device in which the removable part may be very quickly installed and removed from the permanent or stationary part.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned in which the amount of water which flows through the sprinkler may be readily controlled by the adjustment of a control valve forming a part of the stationary part or section of the quick coupling device.

It is another object of-my invention to provide a device of the character mentioned in the preceding paragraph in which the means for adjusting the capacity of the sprinkler is accessible from the exterior and may be readily adjusted while the removable part is removed from place.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a quick coupling devicewhich has a slmplified form of valve which includes the means for regulating the iiow of water through the devlce.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a valve construction constituting a new article of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of my invention are contained in certain unique arrangements of parts and details of construction, and will be referred to during the course of the following description of a preferred form of. my

invention. 5

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating the utility oi my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the quick coupling device of my invention showing the permanent part and removable part in positions ready to be secured together.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the permanent part and removable part of my invention in fully assembled position and with the valve thereof in open position.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional of my invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, the numeral II is used to designate the quick coupling device of my. invention. 'Ihis device II includes a permanent part I2 which is threadedly connected to a riser pipe I4, which is in turn connected to a horizontal header I5, bymeans of which Water is supplied to the quick coupling device. As illustrated, the permanent part or section of the quick coupling device is situated so that it is ush orslightly below the surface of the ground indicated at I6. Adapted to be connected to thepermanent part or section I2 is a removable part or section I 'l which in Fig. 1 is shown secured in place. Extending upward from the removable part I1 is 35 a vertical supply pipe I8, and connected to the upper end thereof is a sprinkler unit I9 which may be of any suitable construction, preferably a rotating type of sprinkler which ywill deliver water to a circular area surrounding the sprin- 40 kler.

As shown in Fig. 3, the permanent part or section l2 is in the form of a body 2| which provides a cylindrical Wall 22 which is threaded at 23 to receive the upper' end of the riser I4. 45 Projecting inwardly at the upper end of the cylindrical wall 22 is an end wall 24 which coview showing the valve v operates with the cylindrical wall 22 to define a valve chamber 26. Projecting upwardly from the end wall 24 is a cylindricall projection 2l, 5G and projecting upwardly from` the cylindrical wall 22 is a rim 29 which is of larger diameter than the cylindrical wall 22 and which provides an annular pocket betweenitself and the cylindrical projection 21. 'I'he upper end of the rim 55 23 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 3| which rests'at or below the surface of the ground I6, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The cylindrical projection 21 has a cylindrical outlet opening 33 formed through it. at the lower end of which is provided a cylindrical guide wall 34, and the upper part of which is provided with internal threads 35. Depending from the' end wall 24 and surrounding the cylindrical opening 33 is a valve seat 36.

Supported by the body 2| is a valve. generally designated by the numeral 46, which incorporates important features. of my invention. The valve 46 is provided in the form of a body 4I 'which is in the form of a relatively thin ries an upwardly exposed packing ring 42 which is adapted to engage the valve seat 36, as shown in Fig. 2. Projecting upwardly from the body 4I of the valve 46 is a cylindrical wall or guide sleeve 43 which has an outer cylindrical surface 44 which is preferably of a relatively close f lt in the guide wall 34 so that the cooperation between these parts serves as a guide means for guiding the valve V4|) through its proper positions, as will be explained. Depending from the body 4I is a lug or projection 45, and formed in the body 4I and projection 46 from the upper end thereof is a threaded hole 46. The guide sleeve 43 provides a cylindrical passage 46 which is open at its upper end and which has the lower part thereof connected to the exterior of the sleeve 43 through apertures 46. For the purpose of controlling the effective size of these apertures 49 I provide a regulating means or flow control means 66. This means 50 is, as shown, in the form of a screw having a threaded portion 5I which is threadedly disposed in the threaded hole 46 and a cylindrical head 62 which is preferably of substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical opening 46. The position of the screw may be adjusted by applying a screw driver to a groove 63 and suitably rotating same. It will be seen that the effective sizes of the-apertures 49 are controlled by the vertical position of the cylindrical head 62, the higher the head 52, the smaller the effective sizes of the apertures 43, and vice versa.

As shown best in Fig. 2, the valve 40 is so mounted that the body 4| and projection 45 are positioned within the valve chamber 26, and the guide sleeve 43 is positioned in the cylindrical opening 33. The valve 40 is normally'held in a closed position by means of a spring 55, the upper end of which engages the lower face of the body 4I, and the lower end of which engages an annular shoulder 56 provided by the cylindrical wall 22 at the lower end of the valve chamber 26. 1

The removable part or removable section I1 is provided in the form of a body 60 providing a central passage 6I, the upper end of which is threaded at 62 to receive the vertical pipe I3. The upper part of the body 66 is also provided with arms 64 whereby the body may be manually rotated to attach `or detach the removable section. The lower part ofthe body 60 is provided in the form of a threaded projection 63 having threads 64 which mate with the threads 36. At

the upper end of the threaded projection 63 there is a threaded enlargement 66 to which a depending skirt 61 is threadedly secured. This depending skirt 61 extends downwardly around the threaded projection 63 and is spaced therefrom. Within the skirt 61 and at the upper end of the threaded projection 63 is a seat 68 adapted to form a seal with the upper end of the cylindrical cylinder which carprojection 21 when the removable part is secured in place.

When the permanent part of the quick couplingdeviceisnotinusetheupperendthereofis closed by means of a cover designated by dotted lines 16 in Fig. 2. This cover, it will be noted, has an upper rounded wall 1I and a depending cylindrical wall 12 which fits downwardly within the rim 23 of the permanent part I2. This cover 1l completely closes the permanent part and prevents any injury thereto and` prevents foreign matter from getting into the annular space 36 or the cylindrical opening 33.

When it is desired to irrigate the area surrounding this permanent part I2, the cover 16 is re# moved and the removable part is moved into a position as shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe removable part is then lowered so that the threaded projection engages the upper end of the cylindrical pro' jection 21. The removable part is then rotated so that the threads 64 and 36 engage each other and by such rotation the removable part is advanced downwardly into an assembled position as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that as the removable part is advanced downwardly the lower end or end face 14 of the threaded projection engages the upper end or upper end face 16 of the guide sleeve 43, and by reason of this contact as the removable part moves' downwardly the valve 40 is moved downwardly against the action of the spring 65. It will be seen that as the valve 46 is moved downwardly it is first disengaged from the valve seat 36, and thereafter the apertures 43 are brought into communication with the valve chamber 26 through the annular opening 16 which is formed between the body 4I and the valve seat 36. At this time water is freeto flow through the valve chamber 26, the apertures 46, the cylindrical passage 46, the passage 6i, and then through the pipe I8 and sprinkler I6 onto the area over which the water is to be distributed.

The valve is guided through the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by the cooperation of the guide wall 34 and the guide face 44 of the guide sleeve 43. These two walls cooperate to maintain the valve 40 concentric to the vertical axis or center line of the permanent part I2 which is designated by the line A-A in Fig. 2. When the valve is completely opened, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper continuous part of the guide wall 44 is in complete annular engagement with the guide wall 34 and not only supports the valve 40 in proper concentric position but does not in any way interfere with the flow of 'water through the apertures 46.

The amount of water which flows through the sprinkler when the removable part` I1 is secured inplace is determined by the regulating means 56. Itwill be seen that when the regulating means is in the position shown in Fig. 3 there is a substantial maximum flow through the sprinkler. However, if the regulating means is adjusted so that the cylindrical head 62 thereof rests in the position shown in Fig. 5, the capacity of the sprinkler will have been substantially reduced, since the effective sizes of the apertures 46 have been reduced.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2. when the removable part is removed from place and the cover 16v is'also removed from place, it is very easy to engage the regulating means Il by means of a screw driver and to rotate same either to advance the regulating means upward or downward in order to decrease or increase the volume of flow of water as desired. In this way it is very easy to get the desired flow of water through the sprinkler unit, which in turn controls the area which is covered by the sprinkler I9 and also the amount of irrigation. This feature will be looked upon as quite valuable when it is considered that since the permanent parts i2 are located in different positions in horizontal headers 52 that the pressure head at each of the permanent parts is diierent. Therefore, in order to obtain the same amount of irrigation surrounding each sprinkler it is necessary to have a diierent adjustment of the regulating means 5d in order that the difference in pressure head may be individually compensated for at each individual permanent part. l. In installing the removable part the skirt 6'1 prevents water from flying from the quick cou` pling device should there be any leakage between the threads 35 and Sei. When the removable part is in fully assembled position, the seat 63 engages the upper end of the threaded projection 2 and thus effectively prevents leakage.

In removing the removable part from the permanent part the removable part is rotated in the opposite direction, and as the threaded projection Se is advanced upwardly from the cylindricalprojection 21 the spring 55 moves the valve 40 upwardly until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time the valve seat 36 is engaged and there will be no further ow of water through the device. The removable part is then fully removed, the cover 'i0 installed in place, and if desired, the removable part i1 with the pipe i8 and sprinkler i9 may be moved to a different locality for further use in connection with some other permanent part.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the quick coupling device of my invention is of extremely simple construction. It consists essentially of three main parts, the permanent part, the removable part, and the valve. The valve in turn consists oi.' two essential parts, the body and associated construction, and the regulating means 50. 'Ihe valve as a whole constitutes a very important part of my invention, and by reason of its design enables a very simple form of quick coupling device to be produced which is of low cost and dependable in service, and which at the same time permits a ready regulation to obtain the desired distance and quantity o! irrigation.

In the preceding description and in the drawing I have described and illustrated the pre- 55 ferrcd form oi my invention. It should be readily understood, however, that various modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention of the preferred form of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a coupling device of the class described the combination of a permanent section adapted to be connected to a supply means; a removable section adapted to be connected to said permanent section; a closure valve in said permanent section; means for opening said closure valve a fixed distance; and adjustable iiow restricting means mounted on the exhaust side of said closure valve, said flow restricting means having a wall which is adjustable in position relative to said closure valve which engages the ow of iluid passing the exhaust side oi said closure valve and regulating the flow of fluid through said coupling device.

2. In a coupling device of the class described the combination of: a permanent section adapted to be connected to a supply means; a removable section adapted to be connected to said permanent section; a closure valve in said permanent section; means for opening said closure valve; and adjustable ilow restricting means mounted on the exhaust side of said closure valve, said flow restricting means having a wall which engages the iiow of uid passing the exhaust side of said closure valve'and regulating the ow of iluid through said coupling device, said now restricting means having a part engageable` from the exterior when said removable section is detached from said permanent section, the movement of said part accomplishing the adjustment of said ow restricting means.

3. In a coupling device of the class desribed the combination of: a permanent section adapted to be connected to a supply means; a removable section adapted to be connected to said permanent section; a closure valve in said permanent section and having a guide member on the exhaust side thereof cooperating with said permanent part for guiding said closure valve, said guide member having a passage through which liquid may flow when said valve is in an open position; means foropening said closure valve; and regulatingmeans, which is exposed when said removable section is detached from said permanentsection, carried by said closure valve i'or regulating the ilow of liquid through said passage.

WALTER VAN E. THOMPSON. 

